"Ping!" "Pong! The firecrackers rang out one after another. It's already three o'clock in the evening (half past eight in the evening), and the flow of people is still bustling. I am walking on the streets of Cheongju City at the moment, constantly greeting familiar and half-familiar people, surrounded by flowers and branches. We headed to the castle tower of the inner castle Honmaru to attend the Oda family's annual Chinese New Year's Eve banquet.

Since it was a gathering attended by all the retainers, I still wore the fine blue cloth gown I wore on the day of the oath in order to meet my position (of course!). A padded jacket was added to it. ), but made a new kimono for Senshiba. Facing this gorgeous kimono embroidered with azure cloud brocade, Xianzhi began to hesitate and didn't dare to wear it. Later, under the persuasion of all the retainers led by Tian Keiji (for which I also gave him 4 bottles of wine) before I launched, she finally agreed. I noticed that it was Ying's whisper that prompted Xianzhi to make up her mind, and now the two of them are like sisters. It wasn't until he saw that the ladies who went to the banquet all the way were dressed in gorgeous costumes that Xianzhi gradually settled down.

"Tadabei!" Turning the corner, Toshiie Maeda and his wife, Amatsu, appeared in front of us.

"Tsk! Tut! Xianzhi, you're so beautiful! This kid is so blessed! Mrs. Ah Song walked over and carefully looked up and down at the new Xianzhi.

"Sister Asong! You're talking nonsense again! You're pretty! Xianzhi's cheeks flushed, she was still so shy.

"What am I! It's all an old woman. Look at you, how watery! Naturally, the loyal guards are very fond of it! Ah Song said as he rolled his eyes over the Maeda Toshiya beside him. Although they are all Ming silk, your piece is a high-grade brocade, or hand-embroidered silk. If you wear it on a beauty like you, you will never lose to the famous wife of the princess's family! And this jadeite with gold and ruby......"

"A woman's insight into clothes and jewelry is too terrifying!" I looked at Toshiie Maeda and smiled wryly. In fact, although she hadn't seen them before, when I first brought these items to Xianzhi, she immediately had a rough idea of their value. I even suspect that a woman doesn't need to be trained to be a jewelry appraiser!

Ah Song picked up Senzhi and walked forward intimately, and Maeda Toshiya and I followed a few steps behind.

"Zhongbei, you've done a great job this year!" Maeda Toshiya said appreciatively: "In just half a year, you have not only become an official retainer of the Oda family from a commoner, but also promoted to the rank of Ashigaru general!" You know, this is a goal that many people have worked hard all their lives to fail to achieve! ”

"Isn't this to thank you for your continued cultivation!" I say it from the bottom of my heart.

"Don't say that, that's what I'm supposed to do." He shook his head and continued: "Your riding and archery and martial arts skills are not very good, and it can even be said that you can't see them at all!" Your talents also seem to be very unorthodox, full of inexplicable things. But no matter what, you seem to have a way to solve it. I think this may be a sign that the heavens are going to prosper my Oda family! ”

"I'm so ashamed of your compliment!" I'm just taking 400 years of light from my later life.

"I'm very optimistic about you, don't let me down!" Toshiie Maeda smiled and patted me on the shoulder.

"I'll do my best for the Oda family!" It seems that this is the only way to do it at the moment. "That's right! There's one more thing I'd like to ask you. "Looking at Xianzhi walking in front, I suddenly remembered a question that had been bothering me all along.

"You say!"

"What if...... I mean, if one day I'm gone, what kind of care will Senshiba get from the Oda family? I said thoughtfully.

"It's a big New Year! What are you talking about frustration! Maeda Toshiya glanced at me with some dissatisfaction.

"There are unforeseen circumstances! You know my martial arts are not good, and I am in this troubled world. I just want to make Xianzhi's future life more secure. I feel like it's my responsibility! "Actually, I have another reason that I can't say: I'm just confused, and I'm afraid that one day I'll be gone.

"That's what you say...... There is some truth to it! He groaned, "In the current situation, if there is any accident...... Xianzhi will receive a bereavement payment. If your son reaches the age of a teenager, the lord may recruit him as a close attendant, and in the future make him a samurai. But no one can say for sure! ”

"Can't Xianzhi get my Yulu anymore?!" I was anxious to ask.

"Of course not!" Toshiie Maeda replied in the affirmative. "Not even the most advanced samurai! After all, it is a war now, and too many people have died. ”

"That's right......" I felt my heart sink all the time.

"Like me!" He went on to explain. "If I die in battle, Ah Song will have to live on my mining in Wasteland City!"

"Caiyi?!" I felt a glimmer of hope again.

"yes!" Maeda Toshiya said proudly: "We have more than ten people in four generations of the Maeda family, and we were born and died for the Oda family!" In order to reward us, the first lord gave 3,000 stones to the Maeda family, Haidong County, and the Arako Castle. ”

"Won't the land be repossessed?" I hurriedly asked the question that I was most concerned about.

"Unless it's a felony like treason!" He said to me, "After the death of my brother Toshihisa, that boy Keiji repeatedly angered His Highness Nobunaga. The lord only exempted him from the inheritance and replaced me as the head of the Maeda family! In fact, even if you don't have a son-in-law, your son-in-law can inherit the family business, and even if you don't have an adopted son! ”

"Oh......" I was lost in thought. That's a solution! I can try to work in that direction. According to historical records, Oda Nobunaga is about to enter the era of great development! With my 'foresight', it shouldn't be too difficult to get a piece of knowledge and action......"

"Hey! What do you think? ”

"Huh?" A loud cry from Mrs. Assun woke me up. When we looked up, the majestic castle tower appeared in front of us.